Christmas tradtions you have grown to love.

[KATMAN]

We always opened our presents on Christmas morning.This all changed when we moved from Michigan to Arizona.Being from a large family,the small house was too noisy for mom as she worked hard to prepare the Christmas meal.So we started to open our presents on Christmas eve,and mom had the kitchen and peace and quiet(down to a small roar). Mom and dad usally let us go outside and play on the patio,or the yard.With tempatures in the mid 60's to 70's,there wasn't a chance we'd freeze to death.Snow,rain was very rare,and never happend in the years we were there.

Another tradtion I have grown to love is my mom's ribbon salad.It is made with cherry and lime jello,with creme cheese in the middle.I'm 51 and still like her ribbon salad.I guess we're going to bring a ham for dinner this year as my mom is turkeyed out at the moment.What are some of your tradtions?

[Jeanne D]

KATMAN,
That ribbon salad sounds delicious!

Every Christmas Eve, we usually go out for an early supper. On the way home we drive through downtown to admire the beautiful lights that have been hung along the main street, and listen to Christmas Carols as we do.

When we get home we have some hot chocolate , and then the adults exchange their gifts.

When we were kids, we would open our gifts Christmas morning, but when we got to be teens we wanted to sleep in late, so we started opening them Christmas Eve. My husband and I continued that after we got married.

Jeanne

[qwerty2]

Years and years ago (30 or so), we were very broke and had no money for presents. I did manage a last minute tree when they went on sale, but it looked so bleak with nothing under it. I had gone grocery shopping and got the idea to wrap up the groceries with left over wrapping paper and the comic section of the Sunday papers. It looked so festive and we were so young and in love that on Christmas morning we opened the groceries. "Oh, honey, chicken noodle soup? FOR ME? How did you know?" "Wow! light bulbs! And they're 100 watt, too." "Toilet paper--well you can never have too much of this!" So much laughter.

Ever since then we've made most of our presents highly practicle. I give batteries with little tags that say "gift not included." We give everyone light bulbs and the person who gets the 60 watters is teased about being the "dim wit". One person will give everyone scouring pads, another will give paper towels, another windshield washer solvent." We each get one "big gift"--but we have so much fun trying to out do each other in being "mundane"--and we all leave with our pantries and larders restocked.

[lbeaty1981]

My dad's still a kid at heart (and I'm not much better ), so every year, we start harassing my mom about a month before Christmas, asking if we can open our presents early. It always starts off pretty calmly, but grows in intensity as Christmas draws nearer. By Christmas eve, she's usually annoyed enough with us that she'll at least let us open one or two presents early.

My 5-year-old nephew is starting to get in on the act, as well. It'll be interesting to see how firm my mom can be toward her only grandson.

[HisLeast]

My family has two small traditions.
First, my mom always gets a puzzle for Christmas which we assemble with the rest of the holiday time. Second, my dad and I get a taster pack from the beer store and have a good old fashioned beer talk.

[teddyv]

My family has two small traditions.
First, my mom always gets a puzzle for Christmas which we assemble with the rest of the holiday time. Second, my dad and I get a taster pack from the beer store and have a good old fashioned beer talk.

Our family used to do the puzzle thing as well.

Growing up, we always opened our gifts on Christmas Eve and went to church on Christmas Day. My wife and I are now getting to the point of finding our own family tradition.

[Firefighter]

Driving up to a tree farm out on a mountain and walking through acres of trees, picking out the perfect one, cutting it down and then trying to figure out how it grew between the farm and my house.

[The Mighty Sword]

Christmas tradtions you have grown to love.

The tree.

[miepie]

We have a very simple Christmas tradition, in fact it's so good that we repeat it on all the important dates of the year like New Years Eve, Pentecost and Easter.....

I am depending on Assisted Living to bathe me and dress/undress me and on those special days we cancel A.L. and hubby is taking care of me completely..... he has no problem with giving spongebaths or put me in the shower, and we always laugh a lot when he does that...... besides a few days in the year without help in the house is a breather for us....... we sleep late and take it very easy throughout the days...... we call it our hibernation days...... and we enjoy each others company very much then........ I am already looking forward to them!

Love you,
Mieke

[KATMAN]

I spent a couple of nights of Christmas eves at my inlaws. When they had little kids at home(they still do) they would get up early,like 3:30, 4:00 am. Then the youngest would open their gifts first,then the next and so on.Not a early riser,I slept at my parents house after that expeirience.

[lbeaty1981]

I spent a couple of nights of Christmas eves at my inlaws. When they had little kids at home(they still do) they would get up early,like 3:30, 4:00 am. Then the youngest would open their gifts first,then the next and so on.Not a early riser,I slept at my parents house after that expeirience.

That reminds me of another one of my family's traditions. Santa Claus still comes to my parents' house every year (even though I'm 28 and my sister's 33). My sister and I usually wake up sometime before morning, sneak in, and take a look at what Santa brought us. After that, we cram everything back into the stockings and go back to bed, then act "surprised" when we go through our stockings with family later that morning.

I always thought it was common knowledge among my parents that we did that, but apparently not. Somehow, it came up in conversation a couple of years ago, and my dad said, "I didn't know y'all did that! How long have you been pulling that one?" The look on his face when he found out we'd been doing it for over 20 years was priceless!

[bc3n1]

Singing in the choir/cantatas at church and attending candlelight services on Christmas Eve was the norm while growing up. My siblings and I always tried to sneak up during the night to see what Santa had brought us. We were never successful!

[steelerbabe]

When I was growing up, we would go to my favorite Aunt's house on Christmas eve and eat and open presents with cousins, Aunts, Uncles, etc. After my Aunt passed away my sister took over duties and we would celebrate at her house. Since we moved to Pittsbugh, 4 years ago, it has just been me, hubby, Patrick & Grace. I try to go to West Virginia over the holidays to visit my brother.